Lose Yourself

"Lose Yourself" is an Academy Award winning song by American hip-hop artist Eminem, released as the first single from the original soundtrack to the movie 8 Mile (2002) on October 22, 2002. It was written and produced by Eminem himself, along with longtime collaborator Jeff Bass, one half of the production duo Bass Brothers, along with brother Mark Bass. The song was largely written during the filming of 8 Mile, including several elements written entirely on set by Eminem. The song largely plays to the themes of the film, as it is largely based around, and written from the viewpoint of, the character of Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith, Jr., the role taken on by Eminem in the film, and the events of the film itself. Lose Yourself became the first rap song to win The Academy Award for Best Original Song.^[1]

"Lose Yourself" is a mid-tempo hardcore hip-hop track, which incorporates several aggressive themes, largely dealing with the struggles dealt with by "B-Rabbit" during the film, and how he eventually overcomes his many problems and obstacles to gain the respect of other rappers, as this is his ambition, but he has constantly been held back by his own personal problems.

The song earned Eminem five Grammy nominations at the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003 and the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2002, making it the first ever rap song to have received this accolade. It is also one of only three hip-hop songs from the twenty-first century to have been included on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and is also the highest ranking, at number 166. As of August 31, 2011, it has had over 4,000,000 downloads in the United States alone,^[2] and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.

Background

Eminem says that "Lose Yourself" was written on set, during breaks during the filming of 8 Mile.^[3] Taryn Manning, who played Eminem's ex-girlfriend Janeane in the movie 8 Mile, said in an interview with MTV, that during the filming of the movie, in any downtime, Eminem was writing and that "you could just see him formulating stuff in his head."^[4] According to studio engineer Steven King, who spoke to Rolling Stone magazine, Eminem recorded the song in a portable studio on the set while he was on a break from shooting, recording all three verses in one take.^[5] The sheet on which he wrote the song appears in 8 Mile in a scene where his character is writing while riding the bus. This sheet was sold on eBay for $10,000.^[6]

The song's lyrics explicitly sum up the background info about Eminem's character in 8 Mile, B. Rabbit, with the first verse summing up much of the plot of the movie.

The song's production incorporates elements of several instruments, including piano, violins and several other string instruments. The song is one of three new Eminem solo songs featured on the soundtrack, the other two being titled "8 Mile" and "Rabbit Run". "Lose Yourself" was later released on Eminem's compilation album, Curtain Call: The Hits, in 2005.

Success and legacy

"Lose Yourself" is the most successful single of Eminem's mainstream career. Upon its release, the track was a worldwide chart success, peaking at number one on 24 national charts worldwide, these included the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Eminem's first number-one hit in the United States. It had a 12-week run at #1 in the United States & Australia, and topped the charts in many other countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand and Denmark. It debuted at number nine in Canada and moved up to #1 the following week. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "Lose Yourself" became the "Longest Running Single at Number One for a Rap Song" at 23 weeks.

In the United States, "Lose Yourself" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart the week of October 5, 2002, at #43. A week later, the single jumped to #18, and hit #1 by 9 November. The single spent 16 total weeks in the Top 10, and a total of 23 weeks in the Top 50. While in the #1 spot (from 11/09/02 through 1/25/03), "Lose Yourself"'s impressive run kept several top contenders for the #1 spot from ever reaching #1, including Jay-Z, Nelly, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, and especially Missy Elliott, whose single "Work It" was at #2 for 10 weeks.

The song went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Original Song^[1] (the first time a rap song ever won this award), beating potential winners such as, "The Hands That Built America", by U2. Eminem, who was not present at the award ceremony believing he would not win, said in a Shade 45 Behind The Boards interview with Cipha Sounds that he was actually sleeping at the time the award was announced.^[7] This was the first time in 14 years the winner of the Best Original Song category did not perform at the ceremony. Luis Resto, one of the song's co-writers, had attended the ceremony and accepted the award instead. "He's creative, he has symphonies in his head," Resto said at the lectern about Eminem.^[8] The American Film Institute later ranked it #93 on their list of the 100 Greatest Songs from American Films.

At the Grammy Awards of 2004, "Lose Yourself" became Eminem's second career nomination for Record of the Year (following "Without Me"), and the first rap song ever to be nominated for Song of the Year. It won Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song, which was a brand new category at the time.

At #166, "Lose Yourself" is the highest ranked of the three songs from the 21st century featured in the 2004 List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (joining "Stan" at #290). Outkast's "Hey Ya!" was the other, at #180. The magazine later ranked the song the twelfth best of the decade.^[9] The song was the 51st best-selling single of the 2000 decade in UK.^[10]

In October 2011, NME placed it at number 57 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".^[11] VH1 placed it at #4 for the best songs of the 2000s.

Several critics cited this trio of songs as the best three from the soundtrack, as well as the most aggressive songs ever recorded by Eminem. "Lose Yourself" itself was also received very positively, with many critics praising the song's aggressive themes and describing it as Eminem's best work to date. Eminem's rapping ability, the lyrics and the production were also praised as well. In many retrospective reviews and lists, critics have cited the song among Eminem's finest, as well as one of the best hip-hop songs of all time.

Music video

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Eminem himself, manager Paul Rosenberg and Phillip G. Atwell, was released on October 7, 2002. The video is a mixture of several scenarios, largely including several scenes from 8 Mile, however it also contains scenes addressing problems the real life Eminem has addressed, as well as "B-Rabbit"'s difficulties, including the ostracism by rap communities towards him due to his colour, and his difficult personal life.

The music video for "Lose Yourself" was filmed in Detroit, Michigan, and thus contains numerous shots of the city, including the Ambassador Bridge. The video is a mixture of multiple scenarios, including scenes from and reminiscent of the movie 8 Mile, and Eminem rapping next to the "8 Mile Rd. Mobile Court" sign that appears on the cover of the movie's soundtrack.

It contains scenes focusing on Rabbit's and the real life Eminem's character, for example, the difficulties he has to face while rapping, the insult and booing of crowds as he is a white rapper and the trouble he has to face due to his alcoholic mother and people he hangs out with.

At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards it received the award for Best Video from a Film in the final year this award was given out. It also received nominations for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Rap Video, and Viewer's Choice. He won a MuchMusic Video Award in 2003 for Favorite International Artist with the video for "Lose Yourself".

The official video (uploaded by Eminem) has been viewed over 65 million times on YouTube making it one of Eminem's most popular videos on that site. However, it was restricted from viewing in 2011, spawning various privately uploaded versions.

Uses of the song

• In 2003, a part of the tune of the song is used as the theme music on the German detective series Lenßen & Partner.^[12][13]
• In 2005-2006, Queen + Paul Rodgers (a collaboration between the band and the singer) used the song as the house music for all of the concerts on their Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour.^[14][15]
• On May 15, 2006, Jodie Foster quoted the chorus of the song in her commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania.^[16]
• In 2007, the teen drama series Instant Star named its season premiere episode after this song.^[17]
• It is used as the pre-game song at all USC home games.
• George Sotiropoulos used this as his entrance song at UFC 101.
• Mostapha Al-turk used this as his entrance song at UFC 99.
• Pro wrestler Jack Evans uses this as his entrance song in AAA.
• ABC Radio Grandstand commentator Kerry O'Keeffe recited the chorus of "Lose Yourself" on air as cricketer Steve Waugh headed towards his famous last-ball century at the Sydney Cricket Ground test match in January 2002.
• An instrumental version of the song is sometimes played before kick off or during half time at Nottingham Forest F.C..
• Leicester Tigers also use the tune before their matches.
• The North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team uses the song during game time when the visiting team scores a goal.
• On February 6, 2011, Chrysler premiered a 2-minute television commercial for the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, with an instrumental track of "Lose Yourself" playing in the background. Eminem appears in the commercial, which first aired on Fox during Super Bowl XLV.
• Video game DJ Hero 2 added the song as DLC as part of the Jay-Z vs. Eminem Mix Pack, mixing the song with Jay-Z's "Can I Get A...

Cover versions

• "Weird Al" Yankovic made a parody of the song, titled "Couch Potato", on his 2003 album Poodle Hat. Eminem had given him permission to parody the song.
• Irish pop rock band The Script did an alternative cover to this song in the BBC Radio's live lounge.
• In 2003, the Australian comedy duo Scared Weird Little Guys produced a rap version of the folk song "Waltzing Matilda" called "Cleanin' Out My Tuckerbag", which parodies both "Lose Yourself" and "Cleanin' Out My Closet", but does not credit Eminem.
• Christian parody band ApologetiX parodied the song as "Look Yourself". It is available on their 2003 album, Adam Up.
• The show Robot Chicken parodied part of the film in the rapping sequence involving Bugs Bunny and a collection of other Looney Tunes characters.^[18]
• Lupe Fiasco sampled this song on his track "Lu Myself" (Jypsyeye on bass) on his mixtape, Lupe the Jedi and the Touch the Sky mixtape.
• During an October 2006 interview with the K102 Morning Crew in Minneapolis, country artist Taylor Swift did an acoustic rendition of the intro and first verse of "Lose Yourself" live on the air, citing it as her favorite workout song.
• The East Village Opera Company performs this song live, usually as an encore with full orchestra backing.
• Fabolous made a remix to this track to honor Eminem.
• Singer Justin Bieber performed a part of "Lose Yourself" on his My World Tour, in 2010.
• Canadian rock band Three Days Grace have been covering "Lose Yourself" in a medley with their song "Home".
• During the farewell concert, Polish hip hop group Paktofonika performed their song "W moich kręgach" ("In My Circles") with music background from "Lose Yourself".^[19]

Track listing

UK / European CD single

Credits and personnel

The credits for "Lose Yourself" are adapted from the liner notes of the original soundtrack to the movie 8 Mile.^[20]

Recording

• Recorded at: Detroit, Michigan.

Personnel

• Eminem – vocals, audio mixing, producer, songwriting and drum programming
• Jeff Bass – additional production, songwriter, guitar, bass and keyboards
• Steve King – audio mixing and recording
• Mike Strange – recording
• Luis Resto – songwriter, keyboards and programming

Chart performance and certifications

See also

• List of number-one singles in Australia in 2002
• List of number-one singles of 2002 (Ireland)
• List of number-one hits of 2002 (Italy)
• List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2002 (U.S.)
• List of number-one hits of 2003 (Austria)
• List of number-one hits in Denmark
• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 2003
• List of European number-one hits of 2003
• List of number-one singles from the 2000s (New Zealand)
• List of number-one hits in Norway
• List of number-one hits of 2003 (Sweden)
• List of number-one hits of 2003 (Switzerland)
• List of number-one hits of 2002 (Romania)
• Ultratop 50 number-one hits of 2003
• Ultratop 40 number-one hits of 2003

References

External links

• "Lose Yourself" Official music video on YouTube